Amazon is pushing Alexa deeper into the front yard. With a new Alexa+ feature called Greetings, Ring doorbells can now hold simple conversations with people at your door, even when you’re not home. The update answers a common question many smart-home users ask: can Alexa manage deliveries, deter salespeople, and greet visitors automatically? Amazon says yes. Using conversational AI and video understanding, Alexa+ can identify what a visitor appears to be doing and respond based on your preferences. The goal is convenience, fewer interruptions, and more control over doorstep interactions. At the same time, the feature raises familiar questions around accuracy and privacy. Still, Amazon sees Greetings as a major step forward for AI-powered home security.
Credit: AmazonAlexa+ Brings Conversational AI to Ring Doorbells
The Alexa+ Greetings feature turns Ring doorbells into active participants rather than passive cameras. Instead of simply recording video or alerting you to motion, the doorbell can now speak to visitors in real time. Alexa+ analyzes what it sees through the camera and chooses a response based on preset instructions. That might mean guiding a delivery driver, dismissing a salesperson, or welcoming a friend. Amazon positions this as a hands-free extension of Alexa’s existing smart assistant capabilities. For busy households, the idea is to reduce missed deliveries and unnecessary interruptions. The feature works even when homeowners are away or unable to answer. It effectively gives Ring doorbells a voice and basic judgment.
How Alexa+ Identifies Visitors at Your Door
Rather than relying on facial recognition, Amazon says Alexa+ uses visual cues like clothing, behavior, and objects. For example, a person wearing a delivery uniform and holding a package may trigger delivery-specific responses. The system looks at actions, such as placing a box down or knocking repeatedly, to determine intent. Amazon emphasizes that Greetings does not identify who a person is by name. Instead, it identifies what the person appears to be doing in front of the camera. This distinction is meant to limit privacy concerns while still enabling useful automation. The AI then selects a response aligned with the homeowner’s instructions. Accuracy, however, remains a key variable.
Smarter Delivery Management With Alexa+
Package delivery is one of the most practical use cases for Alexa+ Greetings. Users can specify where packages should be left, such as behind a gate or near a side door. Alexa+ can also direct delivery workers toward water, snacks, or shaded areas if you’ve set those preferences. If a signature is required and you’re not home, Alexa can ask when the courier plans to return. That message is then relayed to you through the Ring app. Amazon frames this as a way to reduce missed deliveries and repeated attempts. For frequent online shoppers, it could save time and frustration. The feature aims to make doorsteps more efficient without human intervention.
Handling Salespeople and Service Vendors Automatically
Alexa+ Greetings also tackles a common annoyance: unexpected sales visits. Users can create polite but firm instructions for handling sales reps or service vendors. For instance, Alexa+ can say you’re not interested and end the interaction. This avoids awkward conversations and repeated doorbell rings. The feature is customizable, allowing homeowners to adjust tone and responses. Amazon suggests this can help maintain privacy and peace at home. It also prevents situations where homeowners feel pressured to answer the door. By automating these responses, Alexa+ becomes a gatekeeper. That role could appeal strongly to users in busy urban areas.
Greeting Friends and Family When You’re Away
Not every visitor is unwelcome, and Amazon has designed Alexa+ to handle that nuance. When friends or family arrive while you’re busy or out, Alexa can greet them and ask them to leave a message. These messages are then delivered to you through Ring notifications. This feature mimics the experience of a smart intercom. It adds a personal touch without requiring real-time interaction. Amazon sees this as a way to maintain social connections even when schedules don’t align. For households with frequent visitors, it could feel more welcoming than a silent camera. Still, it relies heavily on correct interpretation of visual cues.
Where Alexa+ Could Get It Wrong
As with any AI-driven system, misidentification is a real risk. Amazon acknowledges that Alexa+ may occasionally respond inappropriately. A friend wearing a delivery uniform after work could be mistaken for a courier. In that case, Alexa might instruct them where to leave a package instead of asking them to leave a message. These scenarios highlight the limits of visual-based AI. While the system avoids naming individuals, context can still be misunderstood. Such errors could feel awkward or even offensive. Amazon appears to accept these trade-offs as part of early adoption. Over time, improvements may reduce these misfires.
The Privacy Context Around Ring and Alexa+
The launch of Greetings comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Ring’s privacy practices. Amazon previously introduced a feature called “Familiar Faces,” which allows users to label up to 50 frequent visitors. Once labeled, these faces appear in Ring timelines and notifications. That feature sparked debate over surveillance and data use. In contrast, Amazon stresses that Alexa+ Greetings does not identify individuals. It relies on video descriptions rather than facial recognition. This distinction is meant to reassure privacy-conscious users. Still, combining AI, cameras, and automated speech will likely keep Ring under the spotlight. Transparency and user control remain critical to adoption.
How Alexa+ Uses Video Descriptions Instead of Faces
According to Amazon, Greetings works by analyzing Ring’s video descriptions. The system determines who the main subject is and what they appear to be doing. This approach avoids matching faces to stored identities. Amazon says this reduces the risk of misuse while enabling useful automation. The AI then generates responses based on these descriptions and user-defined rules. This technical choice reflects lessons learned from earlier controversies. It also aligns with broader industry shifts toward context-based AI. Whether users trust this distinction may vary. For Amazon, it’s a key talking point in promoting the feature.
What This Means for Smart Home Automation
Alexa+ Greetings signals a shift in how smart home devices interact with the physical world. Instead of simply notifying users, devices are starting to act on their behalf. This represents a move toward ambient computing, where technology fades into the background. Amazon is betting that convenience will outweigh concerns for many users. The feature also deepens Alexa’s role beyond voice commands inside the home. Doorsteps are becoming another interface for AI. Competitors will likely watch closely and respond with similar capabilities. The smart doorbell market may soon feel more conversational than ever.
Why Alexa+ Greetings Could Change Daily Routines
For many households, the front door is a constant interruption. Alexa+ aims to reduce that friction by handling routine interactions automatically. Missed deliveries, unwanted sales pitches, and unanswered doorbells are everyday problems. By addressing them, Amazon hopes to make smart homes feel genuinely helpful. The emotional appeal lies in feeling supported rather than surveilled. If the system works well, users may quickly rely on it. If it fails, trust could erode just as fast. Alexa+ Greetings sits at that delicate intersection. Its success will depend on accuracy, transparency, and user confidence.
